Photo: canva.com
Currently, we are witnessing thousands of people in the streets of many cities throughout the world waving Palestinian and Ukrainian flags. As governments seem incapable of influencing those presidents and dictators who are waging wars that are causing so much suffering, displacement, starvation and death, people are influencing those in opposition. Protests have long been the only weapon of the oppressed.
I remember when the military junta led by Pinochet took control of Chile in 1973; they had total control, torturing, murdering and ''disappearing'' all opposition. One cruel method of the dictatorship was called ''relegation.'' Men known to be in opposition were rounded up, placed on a truck and dumped one by one in towns up to 5,000 kilometres away. Fortunately, there were always like-minded people in those towns who would look after them.
It was near Christmas in Arica, Northern Chile, in 1980, when I was present when about 30 men were put on a truck in this way. Their wives, mothers and daughters were there to wave goodbye, putting on a brave face. But as soon as the truck disappeared around the corner, they broke down, fainting and crying hysterically.
We decided to organise a protest for the evening of the 23rd. A group gathered on the main corner of the city and began singing, ''Silent Night.'' Passersby joined in the carols, but then the women held up placards with the names of their husbands, shouting, with tears in their eyes. ''How can we have a happy Christmas when they have taken our husbands and fathers away?'' It was very emotional, and we continued singing and marching through the town.
Some of our group were arrested, but they were released when the Bishop said that if they were not all there, Christmas masses would be suspended. Protests continued, and eventually the dictatorship fell.
Let us hope and pray that the protests going on now will result in an end to war and that children who have never known peace will finally be able to experience it.
Fr Don Hornsey lives and works in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
